“You know how your mother always told you to “just go, you never know what will happen?” Well she was right.
THE SEARCH FOR MR. ADEQUATE
Part 63
By Susan Silver
Last week, when the weather was fabulous and warm, I was invited to a book party of a friend I met through the column. Those of you who have been Dear Readers for a while might remember. When I was going to Scotland with Deb, (Column 25) the only person I knew from there had not come through at all with any help or even suggestions. (Needless to say that person is no longer on the friend list.)
Then, out of the blue I got an email from Rachel Weingarten, who runs a company called GTKgroup. “Good To Know” … and she sure was, setting us up with lots of wonderful contacts which made our trip truly special.
We took her to lunch as a thanks and I have kept in touch. Well, Rachel has just written a really cool little book called “Hello Gorgeous” about beauty products of the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s. I admit to being alive in one of those eras. Okay, okay … two.
Anyway, she was having a book party on Madison Avenue and I went. And it turned out to be great … not just because she is and her friends are, but it was the night of Madison Avenue shops holding open houses for Art tie ins.
The street was abuzz! I ran into three people I knew and stopped to chat. I saw stores I’d never been in before and sampled the goodies and had a touch or two of champagne. By the time I worked my way up to the seventies and Ralph Lauren, I was blotto! And everything in the store looked good to me.
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“Rachel and Susan … hello semi gorgeous.”
Photo: Rick Gilbert Photography. |
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(If I could wear a designer for everything, it would be Ralph. Fortunately, I didn’t have my credit card with me which saved me.)
But it was a real fun adventure and a great way to welcome the Spring. And I met a couple people who are interesting and interested in the column. And who knows what will come from that? So mom was right! Plus the shop, Caron, gave a lovely gifty bag. Not the major swag the Academy Award presenters get, but nice stuff.
I am woman hear me roar
On the “cougar” front … that is younger men/older women, my friend the AC (art critic) and I went gallery looking on Saturday. I thought we were going to Chelsea, which frankly is a schlep, but we went to the Upper East Side instead, which is home and therefore easy.
It is really interesting to me, how snobby art galleries can be. Like designer boutiques, sometimes the help is very rude and at least cold and do not make one feel welcome. My friend said he actually had heard a venerable gallery owner telling the help, “if someone does not have nice shoes, ignore them.”
Quel mistake! Today a lot of CEO’s and certainly rock stars are wandering around in tennies and schlumpy jeans and they might be big buyers. In my case, I have actually sometimes felt intimidated by art galleries. If I didn’t know a lot about the artist, I wouldn’t always ask, because they were so condescending. Therefore, it was not one of my activities. But it’s fun.
And lo and behold, some of them were exceptionally nice … oh yeah, because they knew my friend and needed him. And, funnily enough, some were snobby and made a mistake because I pointed that out to him and told him to be mean to them! I will not name names but you know who you are … Madison Avenue galleries.
As to the “relationship,” though it is really nice to share an interesting day wandering around with someone, I have to stick to the 10 year rule, though I hope we will remain friends.
Another youngey broke our movie date so we’ll have to see if it is rescheduled or not.
Now to the other end of the dating spectrum … I saw a guy on Oprah who had an ingeniously developed internet site called Senior Bachelor. He was very good looking, of a certain age, and looking for women to accompany him on trips around the world in his search for Ms. Adequate. He got thousands of tapes and since I am too lazy to make a tape and also frankly not interested in a wholesale search, I didn’t respond.
But once he had selected his 6 companions, unfortunately he got ill. However he is getting well and started a lot of activity for senior daters and has a cruise going to Alaska.
MEN ALERT: So far, the ratio is women 80%, men 20% so guys if you want to be swamped with eager women, go on that cruise! And report to me as I kind of would like to go on the next one if the odds are better. You be my guinea pigs. Women, let’s see what they guys say.
It must be the water
Here is the news bulletin of the century: In the New York Post silly news section, they had a blurb that reads the following … and I am not kidding:
“A 33-year-old man in northern Malaysia has married a 104-year-old woman.
It was his first marriage; her 21st.”
Lady … call me! Seriously, let’s bottle what you have before you croak.
Sorry … my mate envy got hold of me. She should live and be well and as the old joke goes … ”if the guy dies, he dies.”
Words to the wise
A girlfriend gave me these tips and I am passing them on to you for what they are worth. I laughed but you never know …
- Go and hang out at Abercrombie … lots of guys shopping and they have naked okay, near naked cuties in the foyer welcoming you. So you could get a hug if you are desperate.
- She has a grown daughter from her first marriage who is too old according to her lies about her own age, so she says she is from the first husband’s first wife!
Bye for now. I’m on my way out to lunch and just might pass by Abercrombie … it never hurts to look.
P.S. Saw an absolutely thrilling play … Clifford Odet’s ‘Awake and Sing.’
It is a depression era drama with some humor and brilliant performances.
But mostly it is the writing that knocked me out. He was the precursor to Arthur Miller and if you like that kind of writing … which I do … it is really worth seeing. I don’t know if kids would get it, but there were a lot of high school kids on a field trip and I asked them what they thought. They said they liked it and because much of it is about the awakening of young people and their dreams, I can see why, even if it is dated. Great writing survives time. It is what we used to call the “well made play.”
Respond to susan@newyorksocialdiary.com.
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